December 30, 2010, Missionary Training Center

Querido Familia,

¿Como estáis? Yo estoy bien, y hablo mucho Castellano ahora, porque en nuestro distrito, nuestro regalo de Navidad al Salvador fue nuestro ingles. Entonces, hablamos acasi de solo Castellano, pero con excepciones como cuando estamos con Elderes que no hablan nuestra idioma, o, por ejemplo, en cartas a nuestro hogar.

[Dear Family,

How are you?  I am doing well and speaking a lot of Spanish now because in our district the Christmas gift we gave to the Saviour was our English.  As a result, we speak almost entirely in Spanish but with a few exceptions, such as when we are with Elders who don't speak our language or for example, in our letters home.]

Este semana fue muy bien, y yo tenía la oportunidad de escribir a vosotros en la Navidad. Pues, recibiréis una carta con mas detalles de mi Navidad en una o dos semanas. Pero, en resume, tuvimos una reunión de distrito en la mañana por nuestro "Secret Santa" de distrito, y tuvimos muchas reuniones de misión, una en nuestra Zona, y Elder Nelson nos visitaba. Yo tenia muchas oportunidades de meditar sobre la vida del Salvador, y yo sé que su Expiación es real, y poderoso, y que Él es en verdad el Salvador y Redentor.

[This week went really well and I had the opportunity to write to you on Christmas day, so you will be receiving a letter with more details of my Christmas within a week or two.  In summary, we had a district meeting in the morning for our "Secret Santa" activity and then we had a lot of mission meetings, one with our zone and another with Elder Nelson who was visiting us.  I also had a lot of opportunities to meditate on the life of the Saviour and I know that his atonement is real and powerful and that He is truly the Saviour and Redeemer.]

No tengo mucho tiempo en email—solo 30 minutos, entonces, yo voy a escribir sobre papel. Sé que la esperanza por cartas en probablamente un poco largo, pero puedo escribir en mas detalle.

[I don't have very much time to e-mail — only 30 minutes, so I am going to write on paper instead.  I know that wait time for letters is probably a bit long but I can write in more detail.]

I'm asked only to email immediate family in this mission (while I'm at the MTC).  Also, I did receive two packages from you, and one from the Distribution centre—thank you! I'm enjoying the shoe horns in particular.

Thank you for your support, prayers and love.

Os amo, [I love you]

Elder Schlachter    Photos

P.S. We used some Swedish fish, peach rings and gummy bears for Don't Eat Pete—one of the Hermanas [sister missionaries] happened to have a bag of candy handy as we were about to start!

December 23, 2010, Missionary Training Center

Hola Familia,

[Hello family]

¿Como estaís? Yo estoy muy bien, es casi Navidad aquí en el CCM, y tengo animado por el Papá Noel Mysterioso (Secret Santa) en nuestro distrito. Estamos planiando a cantar, y abrir regalos, y leer el historia de Navidad en la Biblia. Yo compré un CD de musica de el Mesias de Handel por un elder, ¡pero mi companiero creo que es por la hermana que estudiaba musica en universidad!

[How are you?  I am doing well, it is almost Christmas here at the MTC and I am looking forward to the Secret Santa event in our district.  We are planning to sing, open presents and read the history of Christmas found the Bible.  I bought a music CD of Handel's Messiah for an Elder but my companion thinks that it is for the Sister that used to study music at a university.] 

Este semana fue bien. Elder Gallacci y yo ensegnábamos a muchas personas, como un nuevo investigator progressivo de Argentina (Gustavo Blanco), unos elderes de México aquí, y tambien a otros elderes, y los lideres de distritos (en 'interviews') y un investigadora que ha assistado a la iglesia por muchas semanas.

[This week went well.  Elder Gallacci and I were teaching many people, including a new investigator from Argentina (Gustavo Blanco) who is progressing well, some Elders from Mexico here and also some other Elders and the district leaders (in 'interviews') and an investigator that has come to church for many weeks.]

¡Pues, eso es sufficiente Castillano por ahora!  [That is enough Spanish for now!] (pronounced Cah-sti-SHa-no, in Argentina—speaking of which, this week we taught an investigator from Buenos Aires, and his "sh" was very distinctive. Elder Gallecci had some trouble understanding, but I've been working on speaking with it. However, I'm trying to avoid using thetas—we've had many teachers from Spain, and so an Argentinian teacher was somewhat shocked when I said "entonthes" rather than "entonces" this week).

This week some of my best spiritual experiences have come when teaching, and also as I have been working to be constantly in an attitude of listening for revelation. I find that the latter is helpful, trying to put away anything that would distract from listening to the influence of the Spirit. This includes not being too competitive in my favourite gym game (four square), and trying to focus on the work, and my purpose ("Invite others to come unto Christ by…") always.
I know that listening for revelation is an important part of receiving it.

I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that the Book of Mormon is true! I love the Saviour, Jesus Christ, and I know that this is His work. The gospel is His message of hope to all people, and all need it—an eternal perspective makes this more and more clear, and it is our opportunity to, as those of Abraham, to share the good news, the glad tidings of great joy!

Otherwise, la vida al CCM es buen. ¿Como fue la Navidad al hogar? Y, si vosotros teníamos preguntas por yo, por favor, ¡preguntaísme! [How was Christmas at home?  If you have any questions for me, please ask! (but please….] (pero, por favor write me before Thursday so I can respond!)

Os amo, [I love you]

Elder Schlachter

December 16, 2010, Missionary Training Center

Hola familia,

[Hello family,]

¿Como estan? Yo estoy muy bien—gracias por sus cartas.

[How are you? I am doing well — thanks for your letters.]

Esta semana en el CCM fue muy bien, y muy rapido. Elder Gallacci y yo estamos los lideres de zona ahora, y enseñamos a un nuevo distrito ayer. Nuestra meta es de los ayuda a ser un distrito mejor que nosotros, con el meta que ellos harán el mismo cosa. Entonces, los enseñnamos como investigadores--los preguntamos, explicamos, testificamos, etc. ¡Creo que ellos serán muy bien!

[This week at the MTC went well and very fast.  Elder Gallacci and I are the zone leaders right now and and we taught a new district yesterday.  Our goal is to help them be a better district than us, with the goal that that they will do the same thing.  So, we are teaching them as if they were investigators --we ask them questions, we explain, we testify, etc. I believe they will be just fine.]

As well, we've been learning more about contacting, and had I had maybe one lesson in this, I would have been much more effective at it with the missionaries in Ottawa! The formula is pretty simple—once you've established some rapport, you proceed to teach succintly, with 'power statements' like "I know that God is your Heavenly Father, and He loves you," followed by a question, e.g. "What would you be willing to do to feel God's live in your life," followed by testimony, repeated as time allows! We've been doing some practising and I'm hoping to do contacting on the MTC campus this coming week.

It's also been a good week for testimony—I know that the Saviour lives! and loves me, individually, and desires that I come unto Him through faith, and obedience to His commandments. I have confidence that as I excercise faith, I will be thus enable to learn more and more of Him, as, through His Atonement acting upon me, I become more and more prepared to live in His presence. I am grateful for the Lord's church on the earth, and the power of His priesthood to bless all people, and me individually in coming unto the Saviour, and receiving of His perfect love and peace, and joy.

In other matters, I received my coat this week. It turned cold yesterday, but it's still only just below freezing, I believe. One interesting point of the week was that we comitted one of our progressing investigators, Jorge, to come to family home evening with his family. Of course, this required that we thus role-play the family home evening, so I was Hermano Magaña, two hermanas were Hermana and Niña Maganña, and we provided Jorge with a spouse and two children for the Family Home Evening. The lesson went pretty well, and we played a round of Don't Eat Pete at the end. However, I do think that Jorge was a little shocked (he's a bit shy), but our goal was to help him to see the gospel in action in a family, and to introduce the rest of his family to the gospel, and I feel that we accomplished those goals.

Our district is also working hard to be early for classes, and getting to bed on time, and we decorated our class room with a large Argentinian flag, a Christmas tree, and a Christmas chain (we remove a link daily until Christmas, then continue until the departure date!). I'll be sending pictures today in the post!

I'm glad to hear that Martins has been baptised, and that missionaries are returning to our ward. Thank you for your efforts for missionary work back home.

Anyhow, I must away, thank you for your love and prayers!

Love,

David

December 9, 2010, Missionary Training Center

Hola!

Como estais vosotros? Yo estoy muy bien esta semana. Yo fue al templo mañana,  y yo recibí su paquetta de Navidad recentamente -- gracias!

Este semana en el CCM Elder Gallecci y yo enseñamos en espagñol un poco, y trabajámos sobre nuestro espagñol! Mas practica es nececito, pero yo trabajo sobre mi accente de Argentina -- ellos hablan con un "sh" por el "y" y "ll".

Anyhow, enough Spanish, for I have only half an hour to write here! I'll be sending responses to the Christmas letter in the mail, though I note that Levi's spanish is pretty good! How is his class going? Alex's spanish is coming along too. Also, I would send pictures, but such is not to be from the MTC, as far as I know.

I enjoyed fast Sunday this week. I was praying for specific revelation about how to better follow and recognize the promptings of the Spirit, and I did receive, and had my impressions comfirmed in our mission conference, where many of the points were then touched upon. I am grateful for revelation and I know that Heavenly Father loves me, andthose that I am teaching, and will teach!

Also, the picture I drew on the letter I sent to you is indeed of the Provo temple, as seen from the of our district's class room. We had our Dominican Elder leave this morning for the MTC there, so we're looking forwards to decorating the room in patriotic Argentine colours and symbols! We now have eight people in our district, four elders, four hermanas. Also, the poem I cited in my last letter actually came from the hymn, "The wintry day descending to its close" (#32?).

The coat has not yet arrived, but it's probably not much colder than 5 degrees right now, with no snow. However, I should like a pitch pipe if you're feeling inclined to send things to me (I'm sure that Brother Cryderman or Brother Mitchell could tell you where to buy such a thing), as we do a lot of acapella singing here! I'm also missing my General Conference Ensigns, so if you'll be sending another package I should appreciate them -- thank you!

Thank you for your letters, and prayers. Yo os amo!

Elder David Schlachter

December 2, 2010, Missionary Training Centre

How are you? I am well—time goes quickly at the MTC; it seems like yesterday that I was writing last.

However, I have been learning much. I went to the temple today, as it is my first real Preparation Day. Today Elder Gallecci and I have been shopping somewhat, studying, doing laundry, and (me at least) playing the piano a bit.

The week has been good—Elder Gallecci and I have had more opportunities to teach, and yesterday we taught a lesson mostly in Spanish. I have felt the Spirit this week testifying of the truthfulness of the work, and the reality of the priesthood authority in the church, and of Joseph Smith's calling as a prophet.

I would send pictures, but it's difficult at the MTC. However, I did receive the camera, and all of the items from eBay, so positive feedback should be left for those items.

I'm grateful to be at the MTC, and to be able to work, and learn more about the Lord through His Spirit. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and I am impressed that there are people prepared for me in Cordoba.

Otherwise, I've been enjoying the MTC gym period—my favourite game is called four-square (cautros cuadernos). It's a bit like volleyball and tennis. I've also finished one of my study journals yesterday, and Sister Beck spoke at our fireside on Tuesday. I've also enjoyed speaking French with some of the Elders going to... the Canada Montreal Mission, and elsewhere.

In response to your question, I'm not outside much, mostly just walking to classes and back. The Provo MTC mission boundaries only include the MTC and the temple, so we don't go outside of them. Also, would you please send me Grandpa and Grandma Larson, and Schlachter's postal addresses? I would like to send them letters.

I love you, and all of the family, and hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for writing to me,

Elder Schlachter

November 25, 2010, Missionary Training Centre (MTC) Provo Utah

 Como estas? Yo estoy muy bien, el MTC es un place por mucha apprendicio, y un place de donde el Espiritu es muy forte. Yo se que el Evangelio restaurado es verdadera!

Mi distrito es muy genial, y me encanta el Espritu que yo sentir cuan yo estoy con ellos. Elder Per G. Malm [spoke] a nos [last Tuesday], y el dia de action de gracias es hoy.

Thank you for your support and encouragement. I am grateful to be at the MTC. Hopefully my Spanish will improve for next week!

I like teaching at the MTC, and I enjoy the opportunity to study the scriptures often. I know that the Book of Mormon is true.

Tengo dos minutos, [thus], este es todo por hoy.

Te amo,

David (Elder Schlachter)